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Black tea caffeine is one of the highest of any tea, but how does it compare with coffee?
People compare tea and coffee to one another almost all the time, and there is no end in sight. Although the comparison is not exactly apples-to-apples, it makes sense as a conversation since they are two of caffeine’s primary natural sources. Plus, they are a couple of the most consumed beverages in the world. When thinking about black tea caffeine versus coffee, there is a lot more to consider than meets the eye. With the huge variety of teas and coffees, the caffeine content can vary dramatically across different styles.
Black tea tends to be on the higher end of the caffeine spectrum for teas. The main reason is because of the steep times and high temperature of water used for brewing black tea. The higher temperature extracts more caffeine from the leaf into the beverage.
Technically, this means you could get more caffeine out of a green tea by using higher temperatures and longer steep times, but that will also result in a very bitter, probably undrinkable product.
Still, there is one green tea that trumps black tea when it comes to caffeine content; that’s matcha. The way matcha producers partially shade leaves during growth creates a higher level of caffeine in the leaf. Those leaves are then ground into a fine powder to create matcha.
Of course, most coffee drinkers will go to an espresso for a strong jolt of caffeine, but do you know how the roasting styles impact caffeine content?
Many people might assume that a dark roast will have more caffeine, based on flavor alone, but this is not the case. Since dark roasted coffee beans spend more time roasting, more caffeine burns off in the process.
Due to the roasting style, light roasts can have a significantly higher caffeine content than dark roasts.
Most caffeine connoisseurs know you will find more caffeine in coffee than in most tea beverages, but the reason why might surprise you. The presence of caffeine in coffee beans versus tea leaves is quite similar. But, the way the beverage is created makes all the difference.
Much like the higher presence of caffeine in black tea than other teas, coffee’s higher caffeine content is usually more dependent on higher water temperature and longer steeping times than anything else.
Also, the standard cup of coffee uses a lot more beans than a cup of tea uses leaves. This means that there is more caffeine present to be extracted in the first place. If you really want to get more caffeine out of your tea, just use more leaves, higher temperatures, and longer steepings. Just don’t expect to enjoy drinking it.
The constant comparison of teas and coffee is somewhat of a shame. It makes people feel like they need to choose between one or the other. Quivr’s line of coffee and tea gives you the best of both worlds. We add nothing to our drinks so the high-grade, ethically sourced beans and leaves can do their work to make amazing True Cold Nitro beverages
Quivr is also a trailblazer in the nitro market, introducing True Cold Nitro Black Tea, True Cold Nitro Hibiscus, and True Cold Nitro Decaf Coffee. This way, you can get any level of caffeine you’re looking for in a range of delicious flavors.
Sources:
ArtfulTea - The Best High Caffeine Teas
Taste of Home - Which Coffee Roast Has the Most Caffeine?
Healthline - Caffeine in Tea vs. Coffee
